Julianne Taylor
Registered Nutritionist, NZRGON, Dip design, PG Dip Design for disability, PGDip Sci (Nutrition), PhD candidate
I’ve been fascinated by the power of nutrition since 1996, when I shifted from a standard healthy Western diet (Note – back in the 90’s a wholefood high carbohydrate diet was standard) to the Zone (optimal protein, moderate carbohydrate, healthy fat, balanced meals), and later added Paleo food choices in 2009. The changes to my energy, weight, and niggling health issues were so striking that they redirected my career.
Before nutrition, I worked in health-related roles for many years—first as a registered nurse, then as a designer of equipment for people with disabilities (Dip Design; PGDip Design for Disability). My interest in nutrition kept growing: I became a Certified Zone Instructor, studied nutrition at Massey University, and completed a postgraduate diploma with research (PGDipSci).
In 2009, coaching clients at CrossFit Auckland introduced me to Paleo eating. After reading “The Paleo Diet” and papers by Professor Loren Cordain I was convinced to try it. For me, it proved to be the “missing link.” The Zone helped enormously, with PMS, menstrual pain, reactive hypoglycaemia, and occasional knee swelling related to autoimmune joint inflammation, yet those issues sometimes returned. With Paleo food choices, those problems resolved and stayed away. I suspect gluten/wheat sensitivity played a role (I don’t have coeliac disease), given my symptoms and their autoimmune context. (See this post on non-coeliac gluten sensitivity)
I’m grateful to the Zone for teaching me how to balance meals—adequate protein, appropriate portions, fewer refined carbohydrates, better food quality, more omega-3 and less omega-6, so I felt energised with stable blood glucose. Paleo then deepened those benefits. The evolutionary lens made sense to me, and I’ve seen similar improvements among many clients who adopt Paleo-style choices.
‘My Nutrition Journey: From the average New Zealand diet, to vegetarian, food pyramid, Zone and Paleo’.
And here is me as Cover Girl in a Sunday Star Times article on Diets
This blog shares what I’ve learned, (you may notice shifts over the years) what works for me and for the people I work with. I love helping others translate nutrition science into practical, sustainable habits.
My postgraduate research began in 2015. I heard about some individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who experienced reduced symptoms using Paleo or the Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet. My first research study I interviewed 10 people with RA who were currently consuming a paleo style diet and reported reduced RA symptoms.
In 2021 I began my PhD investigating the role of diet in RA, with a particular focus on elimination–reintroduction approaches. I wrote a review paper on the studies conducted over the years. I conducted a small pilot study testing the effect of the AIP diet in nine people with RA. In 2022 I followed up on all nine participants to see how they managed the reintroduction process and what the status of their RA was one year post-intervention. My PhD is completed, and currently under examination.
This blog shares what I’ve learned, (you may notice shifts over the years) what works for me and for the people I work with. I love helping others translate nutrition science into practical, sustainable habits.
Work with me: Have questions or want to book a consultation? Email me at Julianne’s email.
Disclaimer: The views in this blog are my own and do not represent any organisation or individual I’m affiliated with.
